Flying-machine.



E H. SKINNER.

v 'PLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 1123.4, 1910.

Patented Aug. 15, 1911.

' To all whom it may concern:

EDWIIF H. SKINNER, QF ARBOGHAR, NEW YORK.

FLYING-MACHINE.

Application filed April 4,

Be it known that I, EDWIN H. SKINNER, a cit-izentof the United States, and a resident of Arrochar, in. the county of Richmond andcity and State of 'New York, have inventcd' a certain new and useful Improvement inv Flying-Machines, of which the fol- I thereby endangering, the machine lowing is a specification.

I My invention, while relating to flying machines generally, has reference more particularly to that form thereof which .15 heavier-than air, and which employs oneor more aeroplanes as its sustaining means when moving or gliding through the air.

Vith machines of this character, when moving or being forced through the air, various disturbing conditions are encountered, such, for instance, as unfavorable currents of air, which affects their balance or equilibrium and cause them to shift-or tilt from the position which they should occupy, and. af-. fe'cting its efficiency more or less. To overcome the objection thus noted various expedients have been adopted, jamong which may be instanced the plane or aeroplanes about an axis transversely to the line of flight, whereby it or they may be caused to present at one 'of its or their ends'a greater angle-"of incidence to the atmosphere than atits or their other while the same resulthas sought to be ac-- complished lay-employing at each end of the aeroplane or aeroplanes an auxiliary surface or plane which is capable of rotation around an axis extending transversely of the line -of flight, whereby whenthe -machine is tilted in one or the other direction around an axis extending longitudinally of the line of fiight'these auxiliary surfaces or plane's may be so adjusted around the transverse axis as to present at the end or ends'of the aeroplane or aeroplanes that is or are descending a greater angle of incidenceto the atmosphere than at the other. These arrangements, while efficient to a certain extent ln arresting vthe slnftlng or tilting movement of the machine, and thereby restoring itsbalance or equilibrium, have involved in the one case the flexible connection' of theaeroplanes, when a plurality are employed, whereby the twisting effect may be accomplished, while in the otherthe operations of ,the auxiliary planes have been found more or less difiicult-of accomplishment' when the machine is in motion.

twisting of the aero- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 15, 1911.

1910. Serial No. 553,194.

to overcome these defects and to provide simple and e-flicient meansifor arresting the shifting or tilting movement of the aeroplane or aeroplanes, and for restoring the desired. a v

To this end my invention consists in certain new and useful constructions and combinations ofparts, of which the forms preferred in practice will be hereinafter first specifically described, and the features of invention then particularly pointed out in the sub-joined claims. 1

In the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification, Figure l is a front elevation, partly diagrammatic,

with certain of the parts omitted, and others broken away forconvenience of illustration, the aeroplanes occupying'a horizontal position. Fig. 2 is a similar front elevation, partly diagrammatic, of the construction shown in Fig. 1, tilted at an angle to the horizontal, with certain of the parts omitted, others broken away, and still others in a slightly di-iferent position from that occupied by them in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isa-n'. enlarged detailed elevation of a part of the tilting-arresting mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2 detained, and Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate slightly modified arrangements of actuating means for controlling the movement of the tilt-ing arrestin'g mechanism.

upper, and A the under, of two aeroplanes, which are'severa'lly constructed with an appropriate frame work. these aeroplanes being'secured together, the one above the other arranged struts a and diagonally arranged extend from one aeroplane to the other and are connected at their opposite ends to them, whereby to impart to the structure the requisite degree of strength and rigidity.

My invention has reference more particularly to the means made use of for-arresting the tilting movement of the machine when its equilibrium has been disturbed, and for aiding in restoring it thereafter to its normal position. '.These means consist ofthe outwardly and upwardly inclined end portions l, andmay he applied 1n connection with a flying machine that employs either a singie aeroplane, or a plu- The object of my invention is therefore equilibrium of the machine thereby when showing a preferred form of my machine, 1

. Referring to the drawings, A indicates the at the proper distance apart, by vertically tension members af, which, with the struts,

rality of such aeroplanes, and maybe located either above, below, or opposite the aeroplane, when a single aeroplane is made use of, or above, below, or opposite either of the aeroplanes when a plurality of such aeroplanes are employed. In the formofthe invention which I haveselected-for purposes of illustration however, they are shown as applied in connection with a flying machine having a plurality of aeroplanes, and, when thus applied, these end portions I are located at the opposite ends of the under.

- aeroplanes A and extend outwardly and upwardly from it, as'shown, and are provided with suitable coverings made up of pivoted sections a z, 6, 77, etc, which are severally constructed in the form' of a rectangular frame covered with fabric or other similar material, or in the form of sheets that will possess the requisite degree of stiffness to retain their requiredshape under,

all conditions of use, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. When thus made up from sections these sections will preferably extend across the upwardly inclined'end portions I from front to rear, and will be journaled at their opposite ends in suitable bearings i on the upwardly inclined bars or end por-- tions I, so as to be capable of turning movements on their pivots to bring them all into approximately the same line or plane, as

shown at the right in Fig. 2, or into paral-. lel relationship with respect to one another and at an angle to such plane, as shown in Fig. 1 and at the left in Fig. 2. In thus applying pivoted sections-to the upwardlyinclined ends of an aeroplane the sustainthereto, gradually increase, while the corlibrium is disturbed, will be gradually over-'- come, and through the difference in varea of the supporting surfaces opposed tof'the acing surface of-that aeroplane will be in creased at each of its ends by the area af forded by the inclined surface located thereat, which, when the machine is occupying a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 1, will be equal at both of its ends. On the other hand, when the machine is tilted in one or the other directions from the'horizontal, as shown, for instance in Fig. 2, the sustaining surface opposed to the action of the atmosphere and across the line of gravitational'force at the end that is descending will, in consequence of being brought into a position more or less at right angles responding surface at the opposite end of the aeroplane that is ascending will gradually decrease, with the result that the tendency of the machine to tilt, when its equition of'the atmosphere and of grayity on the opposite sides of its axis of oscillation, the machine will be returned to itshorlzontal position and its equilibrium thereby reestablished. When the covering for the upwardly inclined end of an aeroplane 15 made up from sections i 15 if, '5 etc., then the sustainingvarea added by, it to that of the aeroplane" 'at each of its ends, will, when the machine is occupying a horizontal-position, be somewhat less than would be the case if the covering were made contiin ous throu'ghout, as the sections, instead of being'so adplane ateach end of the aeroplane, will severally occupy an inclined relationship with respect theretoQas shown in Fig; 1,

justed as to bring them all into the same which is their normal" position when the machineisin equilibrium. While the sections'z't, i i, 2', etc, are thus normally arranged, and while" occupying an inclined relationship'with respect to the general line of their particular surface or plane I at each end of the aeroplane when the flying machine is occupying a horizontal position,

whenever the machine is tilted in one or the other direction therefrom, then the sections of the surface or plane Itoward which it is tilted are so rotated as to bring them all into the same line or plane, whereby a continuous surface throughout is opposed to the action of the atmosphere and of gravity, as shown at the ri' ht, in Fig. 2, while the sect-ions of the sur ace-or plane on the opposite side of the axis ofoScillation of themachine are either leftu'ndisturbed in their inclined relationship, as shown in Fig. 2, or

aeroplanes, when made up from sections, the

tilting action of the machine is arrested and the machine restored .to'. its normal horizontal position and itsequilibrium thereby 1'e-. established.

For normally holding the sections 2' 71 2',

2' etc., in their inclined positions "with respect to the upwardly'inclined BIlClPOltlOIlS Iof the aeroplane, and for returning them thereto-when they are changed from thesepositions, I make use of springs K,-.each of which is connected atone endto one of the upwardly inclined-barspr end portions I and at its other end to an arm Z: fixedly secured to the =pivot-.or- .axis of a section, suitable stops h being employed in connection withthe sectionsfor limiting their turning movements under the influences of the r respective springs K. as shown more particularly in Fig.-

With thesections i i i, 7" etc. thus normally held inthese incl-incdpositions, their rotation to bring them all into approximately the same plane at each endof the aeroplane A when they are brought into action to resist the tilting movement of the machine, maybe eftecte in various ways. In Figs. 1 and 5 I have shown this rotation as accomplished through the medium of a pendulous lever L, IWhiCh,'- provided at its lower end with a weight I, is fulerumed near its middle point upon a bracket L secured to and preferably depending fronrthe underside of oneor the other of the rods or spars a or a of the under aeroplane A with-the upper end of this ,lever connected with the arms is of the sections '5 2' 71, 6 etc., at'each end of the aeroplane A by a cord Z whereby when the machine is tilted in one direction or the other, the sections toward which this tilting action'takesplace, will, through theaction. of the pendulous lever, be automaticallymo-f tated' in the proper direction to bring them all in approximately the same plane to resist such tilting movement, to be again re; turned to their normal positions by the action of their cooperating springs K when the equilibrium of the machine has been reestablished and the machine restored to a horizontal position. In Figs. 2 and 4:, on the other hand, I have shown this rotation of the sections as being effected by the hand of the operator, and, when thus rotated, various means through which he may accomplish that result may be employed.

prefer however to adopt for this purpose a lever L which, pivoted at an intermediate point, by 'a pivot F, to a bracket Z secured to the rod or-spar a on the under aeroplane, is

. connected at its lower end to the arms 7: of

the sections 2' 2'22"", '5 etc. at each end of the aeroplane by a rod or cord Z, which maybe jointed at its inner end to a stud Z that projects outward from the lower .end of the lever L either directly or through the intervention of a slotted plate 1 as shown more particularly in Figs. 5 and 7. With the lever L thus connected at .its lower end wi'h'the arms is, the rotation of the sections i i 2' etc. may be accomplished by a mo. ement of the lever in the required direction by the hand of the operator appliedto its upper end. 'It is preferred however to impart this vibratory motion thereto from a hand-wheel M, through the intervention of a drum m and a cord m secured to and extending outward from such drum toward each end of the machine, around a guidepul x'y m and thence backward to the upper end of the lever to which it is fixedly secured. As thus arranged the rotation of the sections 6 iii, 2' etc., at either end of the aero-- to bring them all into approxilane A,

' miately the'same plane when desired, may be effected by the rotation of the hand-wheel M in the required direction, the slots in the plates Z permitting of the/proper movement of the lever L to rotate the sections at,e aeh which they are mounted, and capable ofend of the aeroplane without disturbing the sections at the other end thereof, even when a rodis employed as a connecting means be tween the, lever and the armsk upon them. While, in the foregoing, I have described the movement of the sections i 2', '5, 2'7 etc. under the action of the springs K as limited by appropriate stops these stops may be omitted when. the pendulous lever L is employed as the operating means for bringing them into approximately the same line or plane, and their movement in the opposite direction, under the action of their respective springs, limited from that lever through the appropriate connecting cords Z in which case the sections at the end of the aeroplane opposite to that in which thesections are being rotated to bring them into an approxi mately straight line or plane, instead of being left in their normal position, as when the machine is in a horizontal position, will, through the action of the lever, be permitted to rotate into planes that are somewhat more nearly vertical, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4. From the foregoing therefore it will be seen that'I provide means for arresting I the tilting action of a flying machine in one directions when its or the other lateral equilibrium has been disturbed and for aiding in restoring itto its normalhori-zontal position, which is at once simple in construction, eflicient in operation, and so arranged as not to interfere with the ordinary and general operations of the machine.

Having thus described my invention and specified certain of the ways in which it is or may be carried into eflect, I claim and desire to secure by United States v 1. In a flying machine, a normallyhorizontal aeroplane having upwardly and outwardly inclined end portions carrying pivoted aeroplane sections normally inclined relative to the said inclined end portions in which they are mounted, and capable of movement to diflerent positions about axes which are parallel to the; line of flight, whereby different areasof surface are presented to the action of the atmosphere at the opposite ends of the aeroplane, and across. the line of gravitational force, combined with means for .moving said sections into difl'erent'pla nes. 1

' 2. In a flying machine, a normally hori- I relative to the said inclined end portions in movement to diflerent positions about axes which are; parallel to the line of flight, whereby different areas of-s'urface are presented to the action of the atmosphere at the opposite ends of the aeroplane, and across theline of gravitational force,

Letters Patent of. the

1* combined with means for moving vsaid sections into difierent planes, the pivoted sections of they opposite; ends of'the' aeroplane being connected so as to be simultaneouslyimoved in opposite directions whenadjusted to different planes.-

3. The combination,- with an aeroplane having= end portions extending upwardlyand outwardly at an angle to the surface thereof, and a covering for-such end portions made up from sections which are normally inclined relative to theinclined parts in which they are mounted and which are capable of rotation to different. positions about axes thatare parallel tothe line of flight, of springs for returning such sections to their normal positions when displaced therefrom, a lever, and connections between such lever and the, ilXGS'Of the sections, whereby these sections may be adjusted and different areas of surface presented to the action of the atmosphere at the opposite ends of the aeroplane across the line of gravitational force, substantially as described. y

4E. Ina flying machine, a normally horizontal aeroplane having upwardly and outwardly inclined end portions carrying pivoted aeroplane sections normally inclined I relative to the said inclined end portions in. which they aremounted, and capable of movement to different positions about ares which are parallel to the iine of flight, whereby different areas of surface are pres sented to the action of the atmosphere at" the opposite ends of the aeroplane, and

across the line of gravitational force, combined with means for automatically moving said sections into different planes.

5.' In a flying machine, a normally horizontal aeroplane having upwardly and outwardly inclined end portions the opposite ends of the aeroplane, and acrossthe' line of gravitational, force, combined with means for automatically moving sald sections into. different planes, the

entplanes. I

In testimony whereof I havehereunto set carrying pivoted aeroplane sections normally inclined pivoted sections of the aeroplane being con- 'nected so as to be simultaneously moved in opposite directions when adjusted to differmy hand inthe presence of two witnesses this 26th dayof March, 1910.

. EDWIN H. SKllJNER.

Witnesses l/VILLIAM A. KNAPP, GRAcnT. Dixon.-

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington,'D. 0.? 

